Coat-adjuster



(No Model.)

W. L. SPOON. GOAT ADJUSTBR.

No. 582,490. Patented May 11, 1897.

Arm/md;

UNITED STATES VILLIAM L. SPOON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF MOODY, TEXAS.

COAT-ADJUSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,490, dated May 1 1, 1897.

Application filed June 22, 1896- To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SPOON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Moody, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coat-Adjusters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates` to coat-adjusters.

My object is to provide an improved machine which will hold an ordinary coat or overcoat and will automatically put it on the person intending` to use the same, thereby successfully avoiding the necessity of employing personal assistance of any kind.

A further object is to provide a combined coat-adjuster and hat and coat rack.

A still further object is to provide a highly superior form of automatic clamp especially adapted for use with my improvedcoat-adjuster.

Having these objects in view my invention consists of a coat-adjuster comprising certain novel mechanisms and parts appearing more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of my complete invention, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 detail views of the automatic clamps.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate duplicate brackets, which are adapted for attachment to the wall or other permanent object.

There are duplicate arms 3 and 4, which are preferably curved in the fanciful shape shown, and they are provided with sets of curved coat-hangers 5 and 6, respectively. These coat-hangers are employed so that the coat-adjuster can be used as a rack when desired, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The rear ends of the arms are formed into circular ratchets 7. A cross-bar 8 rigidly connects the arms. Screws 9, passing through the outer portions of the brackets and into the ends of the rod, are journaled in said brackets, so that the arms may be moved up and down on them as a pivot. A spring 10 is coiled around the Ybar S and has its end 11 connected to the respective arms, while its central portion is formed into a loop 12, which is suitably secured by a nail or screw 13 to Serial No. 596,450. (No model.)

the permanent object to which the brackets are fastened. The spring is coiled around the rod in such manner that it exerts atendency to keep the arms normally raised. This spring should be of such strength that it will exert a pressure of at least twenty or thirty pounds on the arms. A rod 14 is journaled in brackets 1 and 2 and carries on its ends respective arms 15 and 16. A spring 17, bearing on arms 15 and 16, tends to normally push them in toward the wall or other fixed object. On the rod 14 there are located respective double pawls 18, whose lower ends are normally in engagement with the ratchets on the arms. On the outer ends of the respective arms there are located projections 19 and 20, which have eyes 22 and 23 at their outer ends. There are two pull-ropes 24, which are connected to the upper ends of arms 15 and 16 and pass through eyes 22 and 23, terminating in handles 25 and 26. On the outer ends of the respective arms 3 and 4 there are located im proved automatic clamps 27 and 28, whichl are duplicates and are shown in detail' in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The end of the arm is bifurcated, thereby providing parallel tongues 29 and 30, and

these tongues are connected by a cam 31,

which is elliptical in cross-section. Two pivotplates 32 and 33 are connected to the tongues 29 and 30 by a pivot-bolt 34, which passes through and bolts the tongues and the elliptical cam. There are two clamping members 35 and 36. The upper clamping member is provided with two semicircular ears 37, while the lower clamping member is also provided with a semicircular ear 38, and the ears on the upper clamping member straddle the ears on the lower member. A pivoted bolt 39 passes through the ears and the pivot-plates.

The rear portions of the respective clamping members are provided with jaws 40 and 41,which are suitably curved, so as to properly receive the elliptical cam which they straddle. The front ends of the clamping members are formed into iingers 42 and 43,which are curved downwardly, thereby forming a bent beak, as it were. A spring 44, having one end connected to a main arm and its free end pressing on jaw 40, tends to keep the whole clamp raised.

The coat-adjuster is used in the following IOO manner: Assuming that the upper portions of the double pawls are in engagement with the ratchets, these pawls will be prevented from being forced back by spring 17, as an upward force is exerted on the arms 3 and 4 by spring l0. Hence the arms will remain locked in adjusted position at the proper height. The coat or overcoat can now be placed in between the ingers of the respective clamps. As soon as the overcoat has been placed between the fingers of the respective clamps the weight of the coat causes said clamps to turn on bolt 34 as a pivot, but as the clamping members move downward the engagement of the fixed elliptical cams with the respective jaws causes said jaws to spread, thereby forcing the fingers toward each other, so that the coat is firmly grasped. When the person places his arms in the sleeves of the overcoat, the downward movement caused thereby will release the pawls, so that the spring can again force arms l5 and 16 backward and throw the lower portions of the pawls into engagement with the ratchet-s, thereby preventing the main arms from descending any farther. As soon as the upper portions of the pawls have been thrown out of engagement with the ratchets the mainspring l0 immediately begins to lift the main arms, thereby raising the overcoat into the proper position on the person. As soon as the coat has been thus raised the handle of one of the pull-cords should be drawn downward, thereby throwing the upper portions of the pawls into engagement with the ratchets, whereupon the main arms will be prevented from raising farther. As the weight has been taken off the automatic clamps and released the same, the person who has donned the coat may now walk oft.

In seasons when overcoats are not needed the main arms may be allowed to remain in raised position, so that the adjuster may be used as a hat and coat rack.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a coat-adj uster, the combination with pivoted depressible arms adapted to hold the coat, and ratchets connected to said arms, of pivoted spring-pressed pawls adapted for engagement with said ratchets to hold the arms in desired position, and means for automatically raising said arms when released.

2. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with pivoted arms adapted toA hold the coat, and provided with ratchet-teeth, of double pawls adapted for engagement with the ratchetteeth, mechanism for actuating said pawls to prevent movement of arms in either direction, and a spring for raising the arms.

3. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with pivoted arms adapted to hold the coat, and provided with ratchet-teeth, of pivoted double pawls, springs for holding said pawls normally in engagement with the ratchet-teeth to prevent movement of the arms in one direction, mechanism for moving the pawls to bring them into engagement With the ratchetteeth and prevent movement of the arms in the opposite direction, and mechanism for raising the' arms.

4. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with pivoted arms adapted to hold the coat and connected by a rod, of a spring coiled about said rod and connected to the arms, being adapted to hold the latter normally raised, and mechanism for locking the arms against movement in either direction.

5. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with pivotedarms adapted to automatically swing vertically, of automatic clamps connected to the arms, said clamps being actuated by the weight of the coat to hold the latter and means for raising the arms.

6. Ina coat-adjuster, the combination with pivoted arms, of automatic clamps connected to said arms and adapted for actuation by the weight of the coat to hold the latter, and spring mechanism adapted to automatically raise said arms.

7. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with a cam, of clamping members pivoted in relation to each other and in relation to the cam, said clamping members being provided with jaws which straddle the cam, and with gripping-fingers.

8. In a coat-adjuster, the combination with a cam, of pivot-plates, clamping members pivoted to the pivot-plates and provided with jaws which straddle the cam, and with gripping-fingers.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. L. SPOON.

IVitnesses:

C. G. GATES, D. C. JONES.

IOO 

